BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Only six days after being dismissed from UAB, Jackie Williams was in Orlando and set for a fresh start with a new school.

Williams has enrolled at UCF and he'll sit out this year because of NCAA transfer regulations and play as a senior in 2014. He rejoined former UAB assistants Tyson Summers and Lorenzo Constantini. He's known Summers since age 13 when he went to a camp for quarterbacks and receivers.

"They found out through the media just like everyone else," said Williams, a receiver who leaves UAB fourth on the career list in receptions and receiving yards. "People were telling me it was on ESPN, College Football Live, stuff like that. They showed a lot of interest in me and were going back and forth with people to find out what type of person I am."

Williams signed his grant-in-aid on Thursday and will begin practice on Friday. He mentioned that he spoke with coaches at Kentucky, North Carolina, East Carolina, South Alabama and North Alabama. UCF was the only school he visited, arriving on Wednesday.

"My phone hasn't stopped ringing since (the dismissal) came out," Williams said. "It's still ringing with people wanting to congratulate me. I haven't gotten back with everybody. I tried to be as discreet as possible, but I wanted to wait and do things the right way.

"I woke up in the Sunshine State. I came down here with a focus like never before. I see how things can be taken away from you just like that. I'm down here to get my degree, win games and work to take my talents to the next level."

Williams had eight catches for 55 yards in UAB's 49-24 loss at UCF to end last season. He has caught a pass in all 35 games he's played in during his college career.

He delayed his NFL dream for one more year in order to get acclimated to a new program and get bigger, faster and stronger. He could have played right away at a school in a smaller division.

"The only negative I could really see was having to sit out this year, but there's so much more positives," Williams said. "I can graduate (next spring in communications management) and get a master's or a second degree. I didn't want to be rushed into a system because teams start playing games in two weeks.

"It's not a chance to clear my name, because I really don't feel like I did anything wrong. It's a chance to clear my image, so to speak."

UCF confirmed his arrival on Thursday. The Knights and Blazers used to be conference rivals, but UCF is now in the American Athletic Conference. Williams' only chance to play anyone with UAB connections would be if UCF qualified for Birmingham's bowl game, which is held at Legion Field, after the 2014 season.

Williams, who graduated in 2010 from Vigor High School in Mobile, said the last few days were hectic, but the support kept him going.

"I've got a lot of friends and a lot of teammates that backed me and supported me," Williams said. "I always kept my head up and tried to stay positive. I just really thank Coach Summers, Coach Zo and Coach (George) O'Leary for giving me this opportunity."

"I don't have any ill feelings," Williams said. "I still don't know why coach did what he did, but I respect what he's doing because he felt it was best for the team. I want nothing but the best for UAB."